Unemployment benefits can't be extended ad infinitum and there should be a light at the end of the tunnel for families dependent on food stamps.

But safety nets exist for a reason and their diminishment should be based on diminished need. Need has not diminished sufficiently. And this means that congressional inaction on these spending items translates into austerity for austerity's sake, imposed on those already living austere existences.

Congress broke for Christmas with a budget bill, but without unemployment benefits extended. And a recession-inspired boost to food stamps was allowed to expire.

This occurs as unemployment dips to 7 percent, from 7.8 percent a year ago. But the experts say the decrease occurred, not because more jobs were created, but substantially because frustrated job seekers dropped out of the labor force.

In Texas, 68,900 immediately stand to lose benefits and 106,900 in the first half of 2014, according to Washington Post figures. Meanwhile, the Census tells us that poverty has remained distressingly high at about 16 percent.

The economic landscape doesn't come even close to making the case for cutting the unemployed off from extended benefits or hungry folks from food stamps. When Congress returns in January it must remedy both of these items.

What we're hearing, however, is that a farm bill that might contain food stamp funding will cut $8 billion from the program over the next 10 years. That's much better than the $40 billion proposed earlier, but still makes no sense in light of poverty rates.

And all should note that this proposed farm bill would increase crop insurance subsidies for farmers while cutting food stamps.

Meanwhile, GOP House members are insisting on cuts elsewhere to pay for extension of unemployment benefits. So, increased crop insurance subsidies and no consideration of closing corporate tax loopholes to fund unemployment benefits and other poverty programs.

Welfare is quite obviously in the eye of the beholder.

Income inequality is certain to become a campaign issue in 2014. Let us suggest that congressional incumbents have not been doing themselves — or their constituents — any favors when it comes to this issue.